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Dangerous Drugs on sale legally (Piperazine ban imminent in Ireland)

The MailMindbending drugs legally sold in Ireland are as lethal as cocaine, ecstasy and other Class A substances, experts warned last night.

Anti-drug campaigners hit out after it emerged that pills containing the stimulant BZP which is described by the US Department of Justice as 20 times more potent than amphetamines are openly available.

Packaged in pairs under the names "Jax Extra Strength", "PEP" and "Smileys" the tablets are on sale to anybody over 18 at the Dublin Head Store in Temple Bar.

Clinical trials have shown that BZP - the common name for the synthetic dug N-benzlypiperizine - can cause convulsions in otherwise healthy adults.

Although it was originally developed to help wean drug users off amphetamines, it has now become poular because of the similarity of its effects with the drugEcstasy.

The Jax brand is marketed as being "a new legal high" that is "five times stronger than any other dance pills" while "Smileys" are described as having "E-sensory and speed-like qualities". Yesterday the Dublin head shop was selling two of each brand for €36.
Last night the International president of Europe against Drugs, Dublin-based Grainne Kenny called for an immediate ban on BZP and said "The fact that these drugs are being sold legally over the counter is a huge problem - the law has to be changed".
"Enticing young people to use drugs which are as bad as ecstasy, cocaine and other Class A drugs is appalling"
"These drugs are mimicing ecstasy and speed and have already been the cause of deaths"
Fine Gael Health Spokeman Dr. Liam Twomey also called on the Government to ban BZP.
He said "Given the nature of the drug andits status in other countries, I think the health minister should look at the matter immediatly and reclassify it".

A spokeman for the Department of health insisted the status of BZP remained under review, saying: "BZP is not a scheduled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1997.
"The legality of all substances is kept under review, in particular if there is evidence of misuse or the drug causing harm".
BZP is outlawed in several countries including Canada and in every Australian state except Victoria - which is set to ban it next month. The Temple Bar shop also sold "magic mushrooms" until they were banned by Health Minister Mary Harney earlier this year.

The Tanaiste's move followed the death of Colm Hodgkinson who plunged off an appartment block balcony last hallowe'en after taking the hallucinogenic fungus.
Last night, Miss Kenny said that once "magic mushrooms" were made illegal it was inevitable that manufacturers would "get around the law" and come up with "other brands of drugs which were equally as bad" Whe buying both "Jax" and "Smileys" last night the shop assistant offered no warning of their strength to the Mails reporter.

However one of the drugs did come with a printed caution.
"Jax are aimed primarily at the experienced clubber and were originally designed as a replacement for people coming off E. Jax are strong, very strong.
If you weigh less than 70kg it is advised you only take half a pill."

Fine Gael Health Spokeman Dr. Liam Twomey also called on the Government to ban BZP.
He said "Given the nature of the drug andits status in other countries, I think the health minister should look at the matter immediatly and reclassify it".

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This is the same genius who told us that hallucinogens are highly addictive around the time they banned the mushies.

BZP is not scheduled in Canada. Don't know where these people get their info from. I know SWIM who was busted by police for having pills that the po thought were E, but he told them they were BZP. The cops weren't all that convinced and lacked means to test, so presumably to save government money and stuff they confiscated the pills and let him go. But they didn't say anything about the BZP also being controlled, and if you look up the canadian controlled substances act you will not find piperazines. Then again I think we have an analogue act... boo!

god dammit, why can't we just ban politicians instead? they have no clue about drugs, if they were to have an E for example they would soon be trying to change the laws to make them legal! swims advice to politicians is DON'T KNOCK IT UNTIL YOU HAVE TRIED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Practicly people could in the UK (Besides that this is still illegal, because New Zealand shops are not allowed to export piperazines), but that is a matter relating to the UK. It seems likely that the Irish government will ban piperazines by scheduling them.

Practicly people could in the UK (Besides that this is still illegal, because New Zealand shops are not allowed to export piperazines), but that is a matter relating to the UK. It seems likely that the Irish government will ban piperazines by scheduling them.

It seems likely that the Irish government will ban piperazines by scheduling them.

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One of the main uses for the piperazine family is as a dewormer in cattle, and beejaysus boyo you never seen a more bovine dependant rural society than here in ireland boiiiii!!!! And for as long as aul' bessy needs to be yielding good for the aul' quota from the co-op, i'll be making sure there isn't a damn sight o' the worms in her, hey! Now I heard I can order a dose o' them, i'll be needin a good few now to dose the whole herd!

That might sound extreme, but rural ireland is so heavily dependant on it's dairy farming produce, that effective bovine worm killers are going to be nigh on impossible to ban. Sure they're perfectly capable of banning sales of BZP and Co. to the general public w/out scripts, but with so many worm killers used in the country, it's just going to be another readily available black market drug, and you can be sure that a few farmers with low milk quotas will end up shifting bzp or shifting it on to guys who can pass it off as something else. But then, when piperazines do make their way on to the scheduled/banned lists in this country, who's gonna waste their time with bzp. If you're doing something illegal, you may as well make it mdma.

The Mail - Ultimate tripe-spinning waste of pulp.Gráinne Kenny - Delirious psychopath hellbent on destroying any form of recreational drug use in Ireland, laughable reputation."Mindbending drugs..." - Sets the tone of the report without even having to read the entire thing.

Same old shit again. Not that piperazines are really my concern but I disagree with the outlawing of anything of this sort. "These drugs are mimicing ecstasy and speed and have already been the cause of deaths" - Hmm...how about some facts? They mimic ecstasy and speed? How exactly? Is this based on anything other than some kind of arsed-faced presumption? Most certainly yes. Last night, Miss Kenny said that once "magic mushrooms" were made illegal it was inevitable that manufacturers would "get around the law" and come up with "other brands of drugs which were equally as bad" - That's the one that really pisses me off. Take another dig at the poor old mushies that have been ruthlessly banned although they'll probably start to sprout up all over the countryside in a few weeks. It's all BAD isn't it? All bad, bad, equally bad. Oh the horror of it all. Hand me a bucket, I think I'm gonna get sick.

SWIM just tired Piperazine for the first time today. Quite nice. But anyway I am just so sick and tired of when he hears about something that would be quite nice to try out and hey it's also legal and then by the time I get around to it. It's about to be outlawed and the government are claiming people have died from it. How SWIM wishes nettles or something along those lines were "Mindbending" how long before the goverment is saying "Careful now! Down with that sort of thing"

I have to disagree with you there Nature Boy. Strictly spoken they have got their facts straight, but are bending them to their purpose:

Nature Boy said:

"These drugs are mimicing ecstasy and speed and have already been the cause of deaths" - Hmm...how about some facts? They mimic ecstasy and speed? How exactly? Is this based on anything other than some kind of arsed-faced presumption? Most certainly yes.

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mCCP, which is a piperazine is held accountable for deaths in the EU, which occured when it was sold as ecstasy. I would not be able to name one piperazine product, which has this in it, so it may be totally irrelevant information. But who knows as many piperazine blends, do not list ingredients.
Several studies which can be found in the Piperazines section of the file archive do conclude that these piperazines mimic the effects of ecstasy and speed in a way. And the ever so pushy promoters of these products will never cease to promote thier products as replacements for ecstasy and speed.

Last night, Miss Kenny said that once "magic mushrooms" were made illegal it was inevitable that manufacturers would "get around the law" and come up with "other brands of drugs which were equally as bad" - That's the one that really pisses me off. Take another dig at the poor old mushies that have been ruthlessly banned although they'll probably start to sprout up all over the countryside in a few weeks. It's all BAD isn't it? All bad, bad, equally bad.

Anti-drug campaigners hit out after it emerged that pills containing the stimulant BZP which is described by the US Department of Justice as 20 times more potent than amphetamines are openly available.

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US propaganda which is pure BS. BZP is approx 1/10th the strength of Dexamphetamine.

By Mary Regan
PARTY pills five times the strength of ecstasy are being sold over the counter because the Government has failed to ban them.

The selection of legal, mind-altering drugs, similar to cocaine, ecstasy and speed, are being legally sold over the counter to anyone aged over 18, in at least 13 so-called ‘head stores’ around the country, as well as stalls outside big music festivals and gigs.

Support groups are becoming increasingly concerned about the recent explosion of pep pills because they contain the dangerous substance benzylpiperazine (BZP) which acts as a substitute for MDMA, the banned substance in ecstasy and speed pills.

Despite warnings from experts that they cause heart problems and panic attacks, the Government said it has no plans to ban them. However, it is backing a new drugs awareness campaign being launched to warn young people of the dangers of these “legal highs”.

The Department of Health said BZP is not a scheduled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but its status is kept under constant review. However, it is banned and classified as a Class A substance in the US since 2002.

In a statement, the Department of Health said it “reviews any evidence that substances are being abused and are causing significant harm to public health. For example, earlier this year the law surrounding pyscho- tropic mushrooms in their raw state was clarified in the light of evidence of increased availability and significant harm being done”.

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) discussed the emerging trend for the first time at a meeting two weeks ago. It said it will gather information on BZP and consult with its EU counterparts before making any recommendations to the Government.

Support groups say Jax pills and Smileys — both containing BZP and five times the strength of any other dance pills — are becoming the drug of choice for college-goers and even Leaving Cert students, who see them as a more accessible and safer alternative to drugs such as speed, Ecstasy and LSD.

Dr Des Corrigan from the Trinity College School of Pharmacy, said BZP is no safer than any other drug. “The main concern would be dehydration and the risk of heat stroke. The other concerns would be head- aches and a flu like hangover that lasts a few days. There is also the risk of panic reactions and high blood pressure. It would surprise me if anyone would think they are getting anything safer,” Dr Corrigan said.

Michael McDonagh of the Drugs Awareness Programme (DAP) said caffeine and herbal tablets have been around for a long time, but since May they are getting more and more calls about these pills, which are a bit more serious in what they contain.

“We are concerned that they will become a big story at exam time next year,” Mr McDonagh said.

DAP and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are planning an awareness campaign for early next year, which will advise young people, their parents, and professionals about the dangers of these drugs.

DAP said since the ban on magic mushrooms earlier this year it has received thousands of calls relating to Salvia, a more dangerous but legal hallucinogen.

DAP is calling for the regulation of the socalled ‘head stores’ which sell these pills, along with growing kits, pipes and other accessories.

How does one arrive at the conclusion that BZP is "stronger" than ecstasy and that these legal pills are "five times as strong"? This doesnt make any sense to me! And watch, I bet the public awareness campaign for these only serves to introduce more people to these drugs, rather than deter their use.